The row over racism in the police force became notably more political today when the president of the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP), Zaheer Ahmad, wrote to home secretary Jacqui Smith asking her to order a 'critical review' of racism on the police.

It all started so well. The people were sick of spin and image, the commentators said. Tony Blair had let us all down. One second he was "a pretty straight kind of guy" and the next he was promising everyone they were 45 minutes away from annihilation.

Two of the country's top analysts offer their suggestions for the year ahead. Sunder Katwala, general secretary of the left-of-centre Fabian Society trades opinion with Anthony Brown, director of the right-of-centre Policy Exchange.